indefinite
/ɪnˈdɛfɪnɪt/ adjective, noun
Forms indefinites
- adjective Without limit; forever, or until further notice; not definite. “Your account will be suspended for an indefinite period of time.”
- adjective Vague or unclear. “She gave an indefinite answer which nobody really understood.”
- adjective Undecided or uncertain. “I'm still indefinite about what I'm going to study at college.”
- adjective (mathematics) Being an integral without specified limits. “Don't forget to m the +C when calculating indefinite integrals.”
- adjective (linguistics) Designating an unspecified or unidentified person or thing or group of persons or things. “the indefinite article”
- noun (grammar) A word or phrase that designates an unspecified or unidentified person or thing or group of persons or things.
Synonyms
unlimited unrestricted hazy undefined indeterminate unsettled indecisive unsure primitive antiderivative vague
Antonyms
Etymology
L. indefinitus. See In- not, and Definite.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an indefinite time, plan, etc. It were to be wished that . . . men would leave off that indefinite way of vouching, "the chymists say this," or "the chymists affirm that." Boyle.
- adjective Having no determined or certain limits; large and unmeasured, though not infinite; unlimited; as indefinite space; the indefinite extension of a straight line.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “indefinite”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details